Community harmony the goal at Corporal Lawrence Thompson Park

Phil Jonas and Vin Giles might want to think about pitching tents and making Corporal Lawrence Thompson Park their new home.

Both seem to be spending more time at the newly renovated West Brighton facility than in their nearby houses.

For Giles, it’s hardly surprising.

The former St. Peter’s HS girls’ track coach and current assistant at Port Richmond HS — where the girls’ team has had a historic cross country season — is also the founder and president of There to Care, a 17-year-old community service organization whose next project will be giving away 121 turkeys to struggling families next week.

From the beginning, though, There to Care has focused on kids. When the number of kids got out of hand, rising to more than 100, track became the only viable sport and an avenue to college for dozens of kids like Lionel Williams (Penn State) and I. Perfection Harris (Georgia Tech).

Giles’ There to Care is not the only organization with a vested interest in Thompson, though. It is one of at least eight high school, elementary school and club teams happy to be returning to Staten Island’s only public track for the “indoor” and outdoor seasons.

Jonas, on the other hand, is something of a surprise since he is not well-known in the sports or running communities — or he wasn’t until the weeks following the formal ribbon-cutting at Thompson.

He has a long-standing vested interest, though.

“I have used and enjoyed Thompson Park since it first opened,” said Jonas, a member of the Staten Island AC, “and I have a long-time affection for the sport and those involved in track and field.”

That affection has spurred him to take the lead in preservation of both the track and the soccer/football field inside the oval.

Initially, Jonas has partnered with Giles and with the Parks Department while seeking input from SITRAC and beginning dialogues with some of the groups which use Thompson.

“I have some convictions about how to build a better community,” he said. “and this could be a way for a lot of different groups to come together.”

That, Giles said, is a way “to establish a code of conduct.

“For example, the soccer and football guys have to know to stay off the track and the sprinters who wear spikes have to stay off the turf,” he said. “And, we have to avoid misunderstandings on the track. We don’t want ‘Why do I have to move!’

“Joggers, or someone pushing a carriage has to know to stay on the outside lanes, and sprinters have to use the inside lanes.”

“We need to develop a sense-of-ownership mentality,” Jonas said. “Sort of like golfers who always use the same course. They’ll fix their own divots.”

There could be an added and ultimately more important bonus to preserving Thompson Park, according to Jonas.

“If we have all users, casual or teams, respecting and supporting each other, this could be a great way to build a sense of community.”

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Leagues, teams or individuals interested in partnering with Jonas and Giles may contact Jonas at philjonas7@gmail.com.